Joe Hockey: Australia as World's Top Emitter of Greenhouse Gas 'Absolutely Ridiculous'

Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey has mocked the finding of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development that Australia is one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases in the world. In an interview with BBC, Mr Hockey said the comment was "absolutely ridiculous." Previous reports have said that the OECD found Australia as among the "dirtiest, most greenhouse gas-emitting countries."

Hockey said Australia has a small population occupying a large land mass. The country exports energy and he believes the measurement is false because it does not reflect Australia's economy. He went on to say that Australia produces "some of the cleanest coal" in the world.

The OECD greenhouse gas emissions index released in January revealed Australia has the top emitter of greenhouse gas per capita. Luxembourg was ranked second followed by U.S. and Canada. The study found Australia emitting almost 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person in 2010.

Reports said the emissions produced in processing coal and gas are included in the count. The emissions from mining were considered the rapidly growing source of Australian emissions in the last few years, according to the country's greenhouse gas inventory. OECD data also showed Australia lagging in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the last 20 years.

Mark Butler, shadow environment spokesman, said he found it ridiculous that Hockey does not know these facts about Australia. Butler said Australia's treasurer has "embarrassed himself on international TV."

On his first trip to London since he became Australia's treasurer, Hockey addressed the Institute of Economic Affairs that the Reserve Bank of Australia has a "limited capacity" to stimulate economic growth. In his BBC interview, Hockey said Europeans had a basic understanding of Australia's economic ties with Asia, especially China. He described the view that Australia is highly dependent on China for exports as a misinterpretation.

Hockey had previously angered environmentalists in May when he said he thought the wind farms between Canberra and Sydney were "utterly offensive." The treasurer has been on the receiving end of strong criticism for his suggesting that Labour Party leader Bill Shorten should support stalled separate budget measures to help pay for Australia's operations in Iraq.